Can I Give My Dog Pepperoni?

Pepperoni, a variety of salami, may seem like a good thing to give your dog. They even make Pup-Peroni to mimic the flavor of this meaty treat. But is this something that you can give your dog, or are they going to get sick from it?

There is some discussion out there on this topic, with some owners saying that their dog became sick from it, and others saying that a piece of two won’t hurt them. Of course it’s not going to bring your dog to a total standstill if you give them one piece of pepperoni, but the real question is whether or not it’s something they should have, and that answer is more clear.

If the pepperoni is on a pizza then you have other reasons not to give it to your dog. The cheese and tomato sauce will likely not sit will with them, and they should really just be eating their normal dog food with the occasional specially formulated dog treat given to them when they earn it.

Can I Give My Dog Pepperoni? Answer: Not Recommended

There are stories from dog owners that reported their dog became sick after eating pepperoni, which may or may not be the case. Sometimes it’s easy to determine what is making a dog sick, and other times not. The best thing to do is not give your dog foods they wouldn’t be eating in the wild, and pepperoni is a man-made invention and not something a dog would have access to without humans.

If your dog got into your supply of pepperoni and ate a lot of it, you may be in for a case of diarrhea or vomiting, or both. Observe your dog for any unusual behavior, and if they quietly exit a room you may want to get them outside, as they might be looking for a place to barf or have a bout of diarrhea.

Too Spicy

Most pepperoni has a spicy flavor to it that could cause stomach upset in your dog. The spicier the pepperoni, the more upsetting it’s likely to be. Most dog treats are not spicy and come with added benefits like improving your dog’s breath, and scraping gunk from their teeth while they eat it.

You can also try giving your dog a bone for this specific reason, but make sure you get them from a pet supply store and not from leftovers. Also you’ll want to watch them while they eat it to make sure that they don’t break off a shard of bone.

Too Fatty

Pepperoni is a very fatty meat, and shouldn’t be given to your dog on anything resembling a regular basis. So if your dog has issues with putting on weight you’ll want to go with a dog treat instead. It’s also not a good idea to give your dog cooked meats, and pepperoni

Better Treats than Pepperoni

If you want to give your dog a treat there are several other treat options that would be better than pepperoni. It’s recommended to keep a supply of dog treats available so that you can reward your dog when they show good behavior. Some owners also like to give them veggie treats like baby carrots, it’s up to you whether you want to by them from the store or use foods that are OK for dogs.

Keeping Your Dog Healthy

It’s always a good idea to keep your dog in optimal health with a steady diet of high quality dog food and daily exercise. Giving them the occasional slice of pepperoni may not do them too much harm, but it’s also not contributing to their overall health and well-being which is why we’re recommending against it.

One way to keep them healthy is to upgrade their dog food if you haven’t already. It may seem more economical to buy the cheap stuff, but if your dog has health problems later in life the vet bills can easily negate all of the minor savings you get at the register.

By giving them high quality food now you’re going to max out their good years, and be able to spend more time with your dog while they’re in their prime. You’ll see an improvement in their energy level, the shininess of their coat, and other signs.

Add Your Own Answer to the Question Can I Give My Dog Pepperoni? Below

Related Articles...

I’m having problems with my 3.5 pound Chihuahua. She’s been really lazy and usually meets me at the door everyday when I come home from work and yesterday she just continued to sleep and won’t eat or drink. I noticed she had gotten into pepperonis and eaten two of them before I caught her. She also has kennel cough, the vets are treating her for it with antibiotics. It hasn’t gone away. Is there anything I can do for her?

↓ Help a Dog!

We believe our 2 year old 80 pound Labradoodle has bilious. We already feed him three times a day with Costco Grain-free Turkey Diamond Dry dog food and Costco canned turkey and vegetable wet dog food. We also give him one capsule of fish oil in the morning. We feed him at when I get up, about 6-8am, again at 6:00pm and when Donna retires around 11:00pm. He has been getting up between the last night and morning feeding.Should we try Pepcid AC? Does one milligram per pound of his weight makes sense? Should we administer it at night? Is there anything else we could do? Do H2 blockers or antiemetics make sense? What dosage? Do we need prescriptions or should we get them over the web?